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  • typing my res letter...tips?

    So I'm trying to figure out a way to explain to my boss that I don't wanna work there anymore. I could just make something up, but I like her and I don't want to disappoint her as much as possible. Plus I want to end things on good terms for reference purposes. Would "looking for better opportunities" be hurtful? It is the truth. Plus, we're already so short staffed already that my letter will be a nasty shock. I'm moving out of the city, so maybe I should just say that and nothing else?
    Can't reason with the unreasonable.
    The only thing worse than not getting hired is getting hired.

  • #2
    You could always go with "Due to upcoming changes in my personal circumstances..." or something like that.

    I know this is a blinding flash of the obvious, but remember to be courteous and polite. If you like the boss, use things like, "It has been a pleasure working with you, and I wish you all the best..."

    If you go the "opportunities" route, I wouldn't say "better". I may say you are "pursuing other opportunities".

    I don't know if they'll do this or not, but they may be prepared to counter-offer you. I had that happen to me once. When I turned in my resignation at my old job, my manager asked me about the salary increase, to see if they could match it. When I told him, he said, "I'll look into it, but I don't think we'll be able to match that." I believe he was sincere about it.

    So be prepared for that, it might come up.
    Skilled programmers aren't cheap. Cheap programmers aren't skilled.

    Comment


    • #3
      Agreed, especially on the "other" opportunities part. More to the point, moving out of town is a damn good, unavoidable reason to quit. Ask if there's a branch wherever you're ending up that he can personally recommend you for. This will likely soften the blow, and reinforce the fact that you value his personal opinion of you. Also, unless you have reason to do otherwise, emphasize that you wish to continue working your full schedule until it's time for you to leave.
      "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
      "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
      "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
      "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
      "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
      "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
      Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
      "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

      Comment


      • #4
        Whatever you do, don't craft a letter like the one mentioned here...
        Skilled programmers aren't cheap. Cheap programmers aren't skilled.

        Comment


        • #5
          I've written my share of resignation letters over the years including a scathing 3 pager that was forwarded to a handful of select colleagues from my personal e-mail account after cleaning out my desk. I can only assume that it made the rounds much to the HR Manager's and my ex-boss' chagrin.

          I left my previous employer over two years ago, I was there 11 months. While I never intended the job to be long-term, I was planning on meeting my 2 year relocation obligation before actively looking for a different job. I was hoping that I could land a comparable role with a more reputable firm with locations near my new home.

          I had a long list of valid grievances and concerns, I've been told that the situation has only gotten more dire. Instead of writing another scorcher declaring a product recall to be imminent, I followed advice similar to the above, and declared that we were moving to serve as next of kin for my elderly childless aunt and uncle. If they truly wanted to fix what was broken, they would have sought the input of me and others before we tendered our resignations.

          I honestly expected (and hoped) to be walked out the day that I tendered my resignation, with their unfounded paranoia that a competitor would steal their "trade secrets," but I came to work every day and worked full shifts, but nothing extra, through out my entire 4 week exit period (employer requirement to receive good reference and accrued PTO pay). HR wanted an exit interview, but she never scheduled one and I never volunteered.

          I don't think it ever occurred to her that I worked the same schedule as Production instead of 9-5 M-F schedule like she did. I couldn't help but chuckle when she commented that she occasionally came in at 8:30 AM and sometimes worked as late as 6 PM. I was staying 2 hours late every day, and typically 4 hours late if I had the next day off and could sleep in the next morning.

          I'd mention the forthcoming relocation as the reason for the resignation, and be as accommodating and grateful in the interim. Be brief, be bright, be gone!

          Comment


          • #6
            Dear Boss

            I would like to start by thanking you for the opportunity to work with you. I can honestly say that this has been an extremely educational experience and I feel that you have helped me to grow professionally. Thank you so much.

            I will be moving to Other City on x/x/xx so am forced to submit my resignation, effective y/y/xx.

            I understand that this is going to leave you in a bit of a bind and I do apologize. As you know, my primary responsibilities are A,B and C. I have also taken responsibility for X,Y and Z. John has indicated that he would be enjoy doing C,X and Z so if you would like me to start training him right away, I would be happy to do so.*

            In closing, I would like to thank you again for this opportunity and for your guidance.

            Yours,
            Hotel Minion

            *You have identified a problem and being the good worker bee that you are, you are offering up suggestions as to how you can help to solve them. Modify to suit your circumstances.

            Comment


            • #7
              Quoth mjr View Post
              Whatever you do, don't craft a letter like the one mentioned here...
              The first three paragraphs very much apply to the boss that received the 3 page scorcher, esp. the delegation of responsibility. My counterpart on the day shift referred to him as the "Master Delegator."

              Comment


              • #8
                Quoth Captain Neon View Post
                I've written my share of resignation letters over the years including a scathing 3 pager that was forwarded to a handful of select colleagues from my personal e-mail account after cleaning out my desk.
                I did something slightly different than this. I put in a resignation, and then left a three-page letter on my last day of my shift. At the end of my shift, I did all my closing stuff, faxed the letter to the franchise corporate office, and left the store keys and nametag in the office, and went out the back door (that locked automatically).
                Skilled programmers aren't cheap. Cheap programmers aren't skilled.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Don't say anything. Your resignation letter should be as short as possible.

                  I hereby resign my position as XYZ at the end of business on MM/DD/YY.

                  That is all you need. Leave the comments for the exit interview.

                  Anything you put in the letter could come back to bite you. Even if it was good stuff.
                  Life is too short to not eat popcorn.
                  Save the Ales!
                  Toys for Tots at Rooster's Cafe

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I never even got the courtesy of an exit interview; in a way that's a good thing. Manager turnover in that place was so high I had outlasted four SMs and I doubt the current SM had any clue about what really drove me to go elsewhere.

                    My resignation letter was short and to the point; at that time I had already started in my new job so all I had to say was that I had a new fulltime job with more opportunities and could not make both commitments work, I had enjoyed working there, etc. Everyone who mattered to me there knew well in advance that I had found something. I did not give an effective date in the letter as at that time I didn't know whether I wanted to try to keep two evenings a week; standard notice is two weeks and that's what they assumed.

                    I worked the remainder of my posted schedule (I'm a nice person like that, scheduling manager is a nice guy and I didn't want to leave him hanging) and that was that.
                    "I am quite confident that I do exist."
                    "Excuse me, I'm making perfect sense. You're just not keeping up." The Doctor

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Quoth csquared View Post
                      Don't say anything. Your resignation letter should be as short as possible.

                      I hereby resign my position as XYZ at the end of business on MM/DD/YY.

                      That is all you need. Leave the comments for the exit interview.

                      Anything you put in the letter could come back to bite you. Even if it was good stuff.
                      That's what most of my resignation letters have been like -- the absolute basics. "I'm leaving; here's my last day; goodbye."

                      I've been idly contemplating leaving my retail job next fall. I'd planned to write a nice letter to personnel telling them how nice it's been working for the company, and how great all my coworkers have been, especially Coworker X, Ass't. Mgr. Y, and Former Manager Z.

                      At the rate things are going, what they're going to get (and very likely a lot sooner than next fall) is csquared's version, and nothing more ... because I honestly expect that Coworker X. Ass't. Mgr. Y and Former Manager Z will be gone before me. It's getting that bad.
                      Customer service: More efficient than a Dementor's kiss
                      ~ Mr Hero

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Well, I sent it. I just that I was moving and ..not the other part. I felt...ill. IDK why. And guilty. Again IDK why. I'm not doing anything bad! It's the truth! I want this! I've done it before!
                        I got back a letter that said she was out on vacation. Oh yeah, I'd forgotten. I decided to just leave it.
                        When I went to work today, Mr. Guru was his usual self...and then he said so you're leaving, I'm so sad...Huh? I sent it to the GM. Then he said Mr. Gruff, the FD manager, told him so. So how did he know? I guess the email were linked. Oh well.
                        I felt my face turn red with shame. Mr. Gruff must be angry. He's very outgoing, though he's gruff, so he would've called me. But he didn't. Oh well. It's done.

                        Bonus story: Before I told another job I had that I was leaving (it was sooo horrible) and the manager said HUH?!?!!?! 2 weeks after that, I said bye and he was still like HUH?!?!?! Eyes popping. When I got home, my mother said I had a call (I didn't have a cellphone back then) and when I picked up I heard his "HUH!!!" one last time before I hung up.
                        Can't reason with the unreasonable.
                        The only thing worse than not getting hired is getting hired.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          When I left my last job, my manager refused to take my key to the store. I told him that it didn't matter if he took the key or not I was leaving at 10:30 that day. He grudgingly took the key. He was not a happy manager that day.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Quoth HotelMinion View Post
                            Well, I sent it. I just that I was moving and ..not the other part. I felt...ill. IDK why. And guilty. Again IDK why. I'm not doing anything bad! It's the truth! I want this! I've done it before!
                            Not at all unusual, believe me! I've felt guilty leaving jobs too -- not all of 'em, by any means, but certainly some of 'em. But remember that you did your best while you were there. That's all you owe any employer. And best wishes for a good 2017 in your new locale and work!
                            Customer service: More efficient than a Dementor's kiss
                            ~ Mr Hero

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